Best places in the world for wildlife photography

Best places in the world for wildlife photography

As a Zoology graduate, animals and wildlife photography combine to create one of my top reasons to travel. I promise you I’m not biased (well, maybe a little bit…), but wildlife travel really is something worth experiencing!

Maybe it’s being outside in nature, exploring a new destination in the hope of seeing something you’ve never seen before. Or perhaps it’s the anticipation that you could be capturing a completely unique moment, glimpsing an animal that very few people in the world have seen. It might even be coming face-to-face with your favourite creature. Or simply just be being in the presence of beauty!

Whatever it is about animal sightings that give you a buzz, the unpredictability of wildlife only adds to the thrill of it! You can never be certain exactly what you will find, nor what behaviours you will see! Couple this unpredictability with the challenge of new lighting, angles, and scenery and you’ve got one of the toughest forms of photography. But this only makes wildlife photography even more rewarding!

So where are the best places in the world to fill your camera reel with some unique and unbelievable shots?

The Amazon

The largest rainforest on the planet, hosting around 10% of the world’s biodiversity cannot be missed from this list! The sheer expanse and density of wildlife in the Amazon basin mean that you are almost guaranteed to see something interesting!

Unfortunately, the size of the Amazon leaves you with one difficulty – where to visit!

This ultimately comes down to your budget and what animals you’d like to see.

Brazil, the most biodiverse country on the planet, holds the largest portion of the Amazon of any country in South America. For many people, the sheer size of the Brazilian Amazon makes Brazil the top choice. Unfortunately, lots of Brazil’s rainforest has been tormented by environmental issues such as deforestation, which can be a turn-off for some.

Peru is often considered one of the best countries to visit the Amazon rainforest due to comparatively low costs and unspoiled forests. It is also home to the world’s largest clay lick where many bird species congregate to feed on the minerals – a wildlife photographer’s dream!

Ecuador is the most biodiverse of all countries that make up the Amazon. This makes it another great option for photographing wildlife in the Amazon.

Popular Species for Wildlife Photography in the Amazon:

• Caiman
• Anaconda
• Jaguar
• Sloth
• Capybara
• Giant Otter
• Pink river dolphin
• Toucan
• Parrot
• Piranha

Madagascar

So great, they even made a film about the wildlife there!

Having spent over 6 weeks camping in the dry forests of Madagascar, I can honestly say there is no other place in the world quite like it!

This unique island hosts thousands of endemic species not found anywhere else in the world! This includes lemurs, chameleons, and the famous baobab trees which can grow up to 30m in height.

The Avenue of the Baobabs in Morondava is a famous spot for photographing these trees, however, they can be found across the majority of the country (excluding some of the north).

Popular Species for Wildlife Photography in Madagascar:

• Lemur
• Chameleon
• Fossa
• Zebu
• Baobab tree

Borneo

Borneo is split between the countries of Malaysia and Indonesia. Both sides are teeming with wildlife however two of the most popular locations are Sabah and Sarawak (both in Malaysian territory). Borneo, along with Sumatra, is one of the only places in the world where you can still see orangutans in the wild.

Unfortunately, visiting the tropical rainforests of Borneo to see wild orangutans is not something that we can be sure will be around forever. Increased development and deforestation are destroying their habitat at an alarming rate, which isn’t good for an already dwindling orangutan population.

This makes photographing these animals a truly special experience.

Popular Species for Wildlife Photography in Borneo:

• Orangutan
• Pygmy elephant
• Proboscis monkey

Antarctica

Antarctica is one of those places that very few people visit in their lifetime. But when the humans are away, the animals will play.

Though pretty desolate, Antarctica hosts a surprising amount of wildlife. Of these, the vast majority are based around the ocean. This makes boat trips a popular excursion.

The cold conditions and distinctive environment make for a unique perspective for your wildlife photography.

Popular Species for Wildlife Photography in Antarctica:

• Penguin
• Seal
• Orca (Killer Whales)
• Blue Whale
• Wandering Albatross

Galapagos Islands

The Galapagos Islands make up an extremely biodiverse, volcanic archipelago belonging to Ecuador. Even though these islands are situated in the Pacific Ocean about 1000km west of the mainland!

This isolation is what makes wildlife photography in the Galapagos so incredible. Minimal human disturbance and fresh volcanic land have allowed unique ecosystems to develop, hosting several endemic species – something that caught the eye of Charles Darwin! The wildlife across the Galapagos islands helped inspire his theory of evolution through natural selection.

Tourism around the islands is taken seriously by the Ecuadorian government. The archipelago has been protected since 1959, making 97% of the land National Park territory. The beauty of the Galapagos makes it a bucket list item for any wildlife photographer.

Popular Species for Wildlife Photography in the Galapagos:

• Tortoise
• Marine Iguana
• Seal
• Blue-footed booby (yes, I just wanted an excuse to write that in there…)

Alaska

If bears, moose, and other large mammals are on your itinerary, then North America is the place for you! The rugged expanse of nature is seemingly endless in Alaska.

Popular Species for Wildlife Photography in Alaska:

• Grizzly bear
• Moose
• Otter
• Whale

Mexico

If you’re looking for underwater wildlife, one of the most exciting places in the world is Mexico.

The seas off the coast of Mexico are full of life and present a great opportunity for wildlife photography. Animals can be spotted from boats, snorkelling, or scuba diving and provide the possibility for a variety of shots and angles.

Popular Species for Wildlife Photography in Mexico:

• Manta Ray
• Dolphin
• Hammerhead shark
• Whale shark
• Saltwater crocodile
• Humpback whale

Tanzania

How could this list of ultimate wildlife photography destinations be complete without a safari?

It’s difficult to select one country in Africa that is “best” for wildlife photography since they all have their positives and negatives. However, I have selected Tanzania since it is host to some of the best wildlife and is generally more affordable than other countries like Kenya.

Tanzania is one of the best destinations for wildlife photography since it hosts the big 5 (lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, and buffalo) as well as many other popular species. It is also home to several famous landscapes including Mount Kilimanjaro, the Ngorongoro Crater, and the Serengeti. The Great Migration also goes through Tanzania which almost guarantees wildlife to photograph in huge numbers.

Botswana also deserves a special mention since safari tours there are often renowned for being less crowded and having less of an impact on the environment. This can come with a price tag but it is worth considering.

Popular Species for Wildlife Photography in Tanzania:

• Giraffe
• Lion
• Buffalo
• Elephant
• Leopard
• Wildebeest
• Hippo
• Hyena
• Cheetah

Summary

Having recommended these destinations of particular photographic interest, it is important to remember that one of the reasons why these places are so special is because they provide unique ecosystems specific to certain species. Though they are an amazing spectacle, as tourists it is our responsibility to act respectfully and not intrude into the lives of the wildlife in any way! Leave no litter; make no noise; take only memories (and photos).

Though I have suggested several destinations across the world with exotic species that attract people from across the world, this shouldn’t put you off exploring where you are. You can see wildlife anywhere in the world as long as you look close enough!

Yes, even in the UK!

Closer to home, I have seen seals near Cornwall, Sunfish in Plymouth, and deer in London. There are plenty of SSSIs and protected areas attracting many birds. There are puffins just off of Scotland, the iconic Shetland ponies on the Shetland Islands as well as having otters, bats, foxes, badgers, red squirrels, eagles, and even the occasional visits from sharks and dolphins!

Before you go

Thank you for reading my guide for the best places in the world for wildlife photography. If guides, itineraries and travel content like this interest you, head over to my blog page to find out more.

If you are new to Matt’s Next Steps, check out the About Me page to find out a bit more about who I am, my travel adventures, and why I wanted to become a travel writer.

Please comment below and let me know your thoughts and experiences, or if there is anything else you want information on.

Happy snapping!